Untangling Photofaradaic and Photocapacitive Effects in Organic Optoelectronic Stimulation Devices

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Vedran Ðerek
• Author: David Rand
• Author: Ludovico Migliaccio
• Author: Yael Hanein
• Author: Eric Daniel Głowacki
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Physics)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Physics

Abstract (english)

Light, as a versatile and non-invasive means to elicit a physiological response, offers solutions to problems in basic research as well as in biomedical technologies. The complexity and limitations of optogenetic methods motivate research and development of optoelectronic alternatives. A recently growing subset of approaches relies on organic semiconductors as the active light absorber. Organic semiconductors stand out due to their high optical absorbance coefficients, mechanical flexibility, ability to operate in a wet environment, and potential biocompatibility. They could enable ultrathin and minimally invasive form factors not accessible with traditional inorganic materials. Organic semiconductors, upon photoexcitation in an aqueous medium, can transduce light into (1) photothermal heating, (2) photochemical/photocatalytic redox reactions, (3) photocapacitive charging of electrolytic double layers, and (4) photofaradaic reactions. In realistic conditions, different effects may coexist, and understanding their role in observed physiological phenomena is an area of critical interest. This article serves to evaluate the emerging picture of photofaradaic vs. photocapacitive effects in the context of our group’s research efforts and that of others over the past few years. We present simple experiments which can be used to benchmark organic optoelectronic stimulation devices.

• Keywords (english): bioelectronics; neurostimulation; organic electronics; photoelectrochemistry; photostimulation
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• Numbering: vol. 8, 284
• p-ISSN: 2296-4185
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00284
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:317465
• Publication: 2020
• Project: Number: UIP-2019-04-1753; Title (croatian): Mikro i nano-strukture za 3D opto-bioelektroniku; Acronym: 3Doptobio; Leader: Vedran Đerek; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funding stream: UIP
• Document URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00284/full
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Public note: Copyright © 2020. Ðerek, Rand, Migliaccio, Hanein and Głowacki. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Published 17 April 2020.
• Created on: 2020-11-20 16:02:06